In the cemetery in Gedera, Lt. Col. (res.) Yochai Gur Hershberg (52), owner of Phillip's Farm, named after his father, was laid to rest in the afternoon on Highway 40 north of Beit Kama.
Hershberg, commander of the Eitan unit (locating missing persons) in the 98th Division, who was killed in a car accident on his way to a meeting with the unit's forces before entering the Gaza Strip. He left behind four children – Noya, Roi, Neta and Itai, and his ex-wife Hila. His partner Lilach passed away after a battle with cancer just a month ago, during the convalescence.
His youngest daughter Netta, whose birthday was celebrated today, by a chilling coincidence: "Only on Sunday we brushed our teeth together when you came to sleep with us. I insisted that you congratulate me on my birthday. Even though you said there was nothing to worry about and that you would call today to congratulate me. In the end, you agreed to congratulate me," she said through tears. She added: "We had a special broken humor. Every time they tell me a joke, I say my father has already told me."
The funeral of Lt. Col. (res.) Yochai Gur Hershberg, photo: Liron Maldovan
His eldest daughter Noya, a career officer, said: "My father is the strongest and most resilient person I know. Even after I heard it was a car accident, I couldn't believe it. And only when I realized it was a truck did I believe it. My father was on his way to visit his teams before entering Gaza. He had one goal to locate missing persons and bring them back. My father was a Jew with the soul of a Bedouin. Get along with everyone and help anyone who needs help."
She also said that after his partner died a month ago, while he was on reserve duty in the middle of the war, he told her, "Noya, I'm not stopping. I'm just stepping up a gear. My father loved the army so much that I'm sure he thought that if he was already dying, then in an army uniform with the rank of lieutenant colonel."
"You were at the cutting edge"
His son Itai recounted memories of working with his father on his farm: "My father and I shared wonderful moments that I will always remember. In the last conversation we laughed, hugged each other, you smelled dirty as I like. You taught me how to drive ATVs and Tom Kareem and the route of the donkeys. When I was hard and sad, I knew I could call you. I feel like hugging you at least one more time and saying goodbye to you."
His army friends and family spoke of a land-loving man of the land.
Colonel Shlomo Eini, Yochai's commander: "It is inconceivable that I eulogize you. You were a man of the land from which you grew from the land of the Negev. We talked about vine and olive and litters in the herd, about creating life. You were at the forefront of locating missing persons in the IDF. A savage man with the soul of a songbird. You couldn't be missed by virtue of your outstanding personality."
The funeral of Lt. Col. (res.) Yochai Gur Hershberg, photo: Liron Maldovan
He added: "In the first few weeks, he worked extensively with his unit to locate missing persons near the Gaza Strip. With determination and without fear. You said a missing person case is not left open. You understood the magnitude of the task. You were a commander who demanded much more from his subordinates and from himself."
Hershberg continued on the farm he managed near Kiryat Gat, the legacy of his late father Philip. On the farm, which was one of the main attractions in the area, you could ride ATVs as well as donkeys, and enjoy paintball shooting. In the 50s, Philip Sr. went down to the south, with his two friends from Gedera, Yeshaya Henkin and Yehezkel Lvovitz, and together they sowed about 80,000 dunams of Negev lands, from Kiryat Gat in the south during austerity and famine. Philip's partners returned to Gedera, but throughout the years he continued to raise cattle and sow wheat in the Negev. The farm is a partial remnant of those areas from seed, which Philip guarded from the 50s, in 1993 Philip died at the age of 85. Since then, the farm has been managed by Yochai and his family, who moved to permanent residence on the farm in 1997.
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